1
as in skinny
having a noticeably small amount of body fat
the svelte dancer seemed to float across the stage
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sophisticated
having or showing very polished and worldly manners
the interior designer spoke in a low, svelte voice
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Recent Examples of svelte
Vato’s tiny storefront is austere and modern, an aesthetic that extends to the burritos themselves, which are long, lithe roll-ups with a sort of gamine appeal, svelte as a Virginia Slim.
—
Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
There are something close to 50 of To’s movies to choose from, and all of them have a wonderful visual liveliness — plus a compelling, svelte sense of place that lives at a particularly fun intersection between the worlds of Akira Kurosawa and Jean-Pierre Melville.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
Off the primary bedroom is a svelte second bedroom that could work as a home office or nursery.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 13 Apr. 2026
And by adding a svelte T-shirt and some walking-friendly flats to the mix, the rest of your look will be just as comfortable while earning you some stylish street cred.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for svelte
Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
There are something close to 50 of To’s movies to choose from, and all of them have a wonderful visual liveliness — plus a compelling, svelte sense of place that lives at a particularly fun intersection between the worlds of Akira Kurosawa and Jean-Pierre Melville.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
Off the primary bedroom is a svelte second bedroom that could work as a home office or nursery.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 13 Apr. 2026
And by adding a svelte T-shirt and some walking-friendly flats to the mix, the rest of your look will be just as comfortable while earning you some stylish street cred.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for svelte
Recent Examples of Synonyms for svelte
Adjective
-
Look just below the pot section of the Big Dipper for three dimmer stars forming a skinny triangle that allegedly outline the Big Bear’s head.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
14 June 2026
-
Let’s be honest, not everyone loves shorts, and structured, straight or skinny pants are too restricting.—
Gabrielle Porcaro,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Their 50-acre estate in the center of Rutherford is home to Bordeaux varieties, including the Malbec used to make this sophisticated rosé, which proffers a nose of raspberry, clementine, and freesia.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
19 June 2026
-
The organic edging and modern handles create a sleek, sophisticated finish.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Eschewing fences and pavement in favor of natural footpaths lined with brambles and shrubs, these slender pathways provide epic sea views while leaving the ancestral homes of other animals intact.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Credit is due to Spike Lee, who always shows up, and has since Patrick Ewing was a slender rookie and the world was young.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Loving Venus moves through your 11th House of Friends and trines imaginative Neptune in your 7th House of Partnership, so collaboration feels graceful and heartfelt.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
16 June 2026
-
Others were just as proud, albeit less graceful with their language.—
Kenneal Patterson,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Specifically saying these white, thin, traditionally feminine bodies are not just aspirational but symbols of morality, tradition, purity.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
-
This game isn't in Las Vegas, this is in Sacramento, so the thin air that carried the ball out of the park the past few days is not a factor.—
David Troy OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
But the contact needs to be smooth to help with the disguise aspect.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
The smooth leather exterior truly gives it the appearance of a custom desk accessory.—
Jaha Nailah Avery,
Architectural Digest,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
These small habits keep the closet lean with almost no effort.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
19 June 2026
-
So lean into the solstice this week, do some real stargazing and build your confidence gradually while the geometry of Earth's tilt turns in your favor.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Pierce Brosnan brought a suave, debonair approach, while Daniel Craig introduced a gritty realism and vulnerability to Bond.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
-
Be sure to drop into the sultry Pine Bar—all low lighting and dark corners—which specializes in wonderfully creative cocktails, delivered in whimsical locked boxes by suave waiters in red-velvet smoking jackets.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Svelte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/svelte. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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